Literary Term - Apostrophe

 

Literary Term

Apostrophe 

Definition

In literature, an apostrophe is a figure of speech where a speaker addresses an absent or non-human entity, as if it were present and able to understand and respond. The term "apostrophe" comes from the Greek word "apostrophē," which means "turning away." It involves a rhetorical shift or diversion from the typical course of discourse to directly address an abstract concept, an inanimate object, a deceased person, or an imaginary being.

Apostrophes are often used to express strong emotions, intense feelings, or to create a more vivid and personal connection between the speaker and the subject. It allows the writer to personify or animate an object or an idea, infusing it with life and emotions.

Examples of Apostrophe:

"O, Romeo, Romeo, wherefore art thou Romeo?" - William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

In this famous line, Juliet addresses Romeo, even though he is not physically present.

 

"Death, be not proud, though some have called thee

Mighty and dreadful, for thou art not so." - John Donne, Holy Sonnet X

In this poem, the speaker addresses Death directly, personifying it and challenging its power.

 

"Welcome, O life! I go to encounter for the millionth time the reality of experience and to forge in the smithy of my soul the uncreated conscience of my race." - James Joyce, A Portrait of the Artist as a Young Man

Here, the protagonist, Stephen Dedalus, welcomes life as if it were a living entity.

 

Apostrophes can be found in various forms of literature, including poetry, drama, and prose, and are employed to add depth, emotion, and intensity to the text.

Common Examples of Apostrophe in Everyday Speech

In everyday speech, apostrophes are commonly used to convey strong emotions, create emphasis, or personify objects, ideas, or even abstract concepts. Here are some common examples of apostrophe in everyday language:

 

"O, coffee, my savior! I can't function without you."

In this example, the speaker addresses coffee as if it were a person, expressing their strong dependence on it.

 

"Hello, weekend, I've been waiting for you all week!"

Here, the weekend is personified and greeted as if it were a person arriving.

 

"Oh, my poor car, you've seen better days."

The speaker expresses sympathy for their car, as if it were capable of understanding their sentiment.

 

"Why, oh why, did I make that mistake?"

The speaker is asking a rhetorical question, addressing fate or the situation that led to the mistake.

 

"Time, you thief! It feels like moments slip away too quickly."

Time is personified as a thief stealing moments, emphasizing the feeling of time passing too fast.

 

"Oh, sweet summer, how I love your warm days and long nights."

The speaker addresses the season of summer, personifying it and expressing affection for its qualities.

 

"Money, where have you gone when I needed you the most?"

The speaker addresses money as if it were a person who has disappeared, highlighting their financial concerns.

 

"Rain, rain, go away, come again another day."

This nursery rhyme is a classic example of addressing the weather, in this case, rain, to express a wish.

 

"Hey, luck, be on my side today!"

The speaker is personifying luck, hoping for favorable outcomes.

 

"Oh, the joys of childhood, how I miss you!"

The speaker addresses the concept of childhood, evoking nostalgic feelings.

 

These everyday examples show how apostrophe is often used in casual conversations to add emotion, emphasis, or a touch of personification to the language we use. It's a powerful rhetorical device that allows us to express our feelings more vividly and engagingly.

Examples of Apostrophe in Song Lyrics

Apostrophe is a common literary device used in song lyrics to convey emotions, create vivid imagery, and make the lyrics more expressive. Here are some examples of apostrophe in song lyrics:

 

Song: "Hey Jude" by The Beatles

Lyrics: "Hey Jude, don't make it bad / Take a sad song and make it better"

In this song, the singer addresses Jude directly, offering comfort and encouragement.

 

Song: "Billie Jean" by Michael Jackson

Lyrics: "Billie Jean is not my lover / She's just a girl who claims that I am the one"

In this song, Michael Jackson addresses the character of Billie Jean, denying the paternity claim.

 

Song: "Hello" by Adele

Lyrics: "Hello from the other side / I must've called a thousand times"

Adele addresses someone from her past, expressing her desire to reconnect.

 

Song: "Bohemian Rhapsody" by Queen

Lyrics: "Is this the real life? / Is this just fantasy?"

The opening lines of the song address life itself, questioning its nature.

 

Song: "Imagine" by John Lennon

Lyrics: "Imagine there's no countries / It isn't hard to do"

John Lennon uses apostrophe to invite listeners to envision a world without borders.

 

Song: "Mr. Tambourine Man" by Bob Dylan

Lyrics: "Hey, Mr. Tambourine Man, play a song for me / I'm not sleepy, and there ain't no place I'm going to"

The singer addresses Mr. Tambourine Man, requesting a song to lift his spirits.

 

Song: "Shape of You" by Ed Sheeran

Lyrics: "I'm in love with the shape of you / We push and pull like a magnet do"

Ed Sheeran uses apostrophe to personify love and describe its effect on him.

 

Song: "Candle in the Wind" by Elton John

Lyrics: "Goodbye Norma Jean / Though I never knew you at all"

Elton John addresses Marilyn Monroe (Norma Jean) directly, reflecting on her life.

 

Song: "Yesterday" by The Beatles

Lyrics: "Yesterday, all my troubles seemed so far away / Now it looks as though they're here to stay"

The singer addresses the past, reminiscing about better times.

 

Song: "Firework" by Katy Perry

Lyrics: "Do you ever feel like a plastic bag / Drifting through the wind, wanting to start again?"

Katy Perry uses apostrophe to compare feeling insignificant to being a plastic bag drifting aimlessly.

 

These song lyrics demonstrate how apostrophe is a powerful tool in songwriting, allowing artists to evoke emotions, tell stories, and create memorable imagery.

Apostrophe in Shakespeare

William Shakespeare, being a master of language and literary techniques, used apostrophe in several of his works to great effect. Here are some examples of apostrophe in Shakespeare's plays and poems:

 

Play: Romeo and Juliet

Act 2, Scene 2:

"O Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?

Deny thy father and refuse thy name;

Or, if thou wilt not, be but sworn my love,

And I'll no longer be a Capulet."

Juliet addresses Romeo, who is not present, expressing her love and lamenting the feud between their families.

 

Play: Macbeth

Act 2, Scene 1:

"Is this a dagger which I see before me,

The handle toward my hand? Come, let me clutch thee!"

Macbeth sees a hallucinatory dagger and addresses it as if it were a real object in front of him.

 

Play: Julius Caesar

Act 3, Scene 1:

"O pardon me, thou bleeding piece of earth,

That I am meek and gentle with these butchers!"

Antony addresses the slain Caesar's body, expressing sorrow and anger at his death.

 

Play: Hamlet

Act 3, Scene 1:

"To be, or not to be: that is the question:

Whether 'tis nobler in the mind to suffer

The slings and arrows of outrageous fortune,

Or to take arms against a sea of troubles..."

In this famous soliloquy, Hamlet addresses the abstract concept of existence, contemplating life and death.

 

Poem: Sonnet 18

"Shall I compare thee to a summer's day?

Thou art more lovely and more temperate."

The poet addresses the subject of the sonnet, praising their beauty and comparing them to a summer's day.

 

Poem: Sonnet 73

"That time of year thou mayst in me behold

When yellow leaves, or none, or few, do hang

Upon those boughs which shake against the cold..."

The speaker addresses the passage of time and its effect on himself, comparing it to the changing seasons.

 

These examples showcase Shakespeare's skill in using apostrophe to bring depth and emotion to his characters' thoughts and feelings. It adds a sense of intimacy and allows the audience to connect with the characters and themes on a deeper level.

Difference Between Apostrophe as Literary Device and Punctuation

Apostrophe, as a literary device and punctuation mark, serves different purposes and has distinct functions:

 

Literary Device (Figure of Speech - Apostrophe):

As a literary device, apostrophe is a figure of speech in which a speaker addresses an absent or non-human entity directly, as if it were present and capable of understanding and responding. It involves a rhetorical shift or turning away from the usual course of discourse to address an object, an abstract idea, a deceased person, or an imaginary being. The primary aim is to evoke emotions, create vivid imagery, and add depth to the text.

Example: "O, Romeo, Romeo! wherefore art thou Romeo?" - William Shakespeare, Romeo and Juliet

In this example, Juliet is using apostrophe to address Romeo, who is not physically present, expressing her love and frustration.

 

Punctuation Mark (Apostrophe - '):

As a punctuation mark, the apostrophe (') serves two main functions:

a. Contraction: It is used to indicate the omission of one or more letters in a word when combining two words. For example, "can't" is a contraction of "cannot," and "won't" is a contraction of "will not."

b. Possessive: The apostrophe is used to indicate possession or ownership. It is added to the end of a singular noun to show that something belongs to that noun. For example, "the dog's bone" indicates that the bone belongs to the dog.

Examples:

Contraction: "I can't go to the party tonight."

Possessive: "John's car is parked outside."

 

In summary, the apostrophe as a literary device (apostrophe figure of speech) is used to address absent or non-human entities for expressive and emotional purposes in literature, while the apostrophe as a punctuation mark (') is used for contractions and to indicate possession in written language. Both forms of apostrophe have distinct roles and play important roles in language and literature.

Difference between Apostrophe and Personification

Apostrophe and personification are both literary devices used to bring life and vividness to writing, but they are different in their focus and application:

Apostrophe:

Apostrophe is a figure of speech where a speaker addresses an absent or non-human entity as if it were present and able to respond. It involves a direct and emotional address to an object, concept, or even an abstract idea. The purpose of apostrophe is to evoke strong emotions, create a sense of intimacy, and add a human touch to the subject being addressed. It is commonly used in poetry, drama, and prose to emphasize feelings, provide insight into a character's thoughts, or add rhetorical impact to the text.

Example of Apostrophe: "O, coffee, my savior! I can't function without you."

In this example, the speaker addresses coffee directly, expressing their dependence on it and personifying it as a savior.

 

Personification:

Personification is a literary device where human qualities, emotions, or actions are attributed to inanimate objects, animals, or abstract concepts. It involves treating non-human entities as if they were human, giving them the ability to think, feel, and act like people. Personification is used to make descriptions more vivid, create engaging imagery, and add depth to the narrative. It is a common literary technique employed in various forms of writing, including poetry, prose, and storytelling.

Example of Personification: "The wind whispered through the trees."

In this example, the wind is personified with the human action of whispering, giving it human-like qualities.

 

Key Difference:

Apostrophe involves directly addressing an absent or non-human entity as if it were present, often used to express emotions or thoughts.

Personification involves attributing human qualities to non-human things or abstract concepts, creating vivid and engaging imagery.

In summary, apostrophe is a figure of speech involving direct address, while personification is the attribution of human traits to non-human entities. Both literary devices serve to enhance writing by making it more expressive and imaginative.

Use of Apostrophe in Sentences

"O, Sun, shine brightly upon us and bring warmth to our day."

"Fate, be kind and grant me a chance to prove myself."

"Alas, Love, why do you torment me so?"

"Hello, Darkness, my old friend, I've come to talk with you again." - from "The Sound of Silence" by Simon & Garfunkel

"Ah, Music, you are the language of the soul."

"Time, you are a relentless companion, forever marching forward."

"Death, where is your sting? I fear you not!" - from the Bible, 1 Corinthians 15:55

"O, Wind, carry my dreams to distant lands."

"Nature, you are the true artist, painting the world with beauty."

"O, Moon, watch over us as we journey through the night."

 

In these sentences, you can see the use of apostrophe to directly address entities like the Sun, Fate, Love, Darkness, Music, Time, Death, Wind, Nature, and the Moon, as if they were present and able to understand the speaker's words. Apostrophe adds an emotional and personal touch to these sentences, making them more expressive and engaging.

Synonyms of Apostrophe

There are several synonyms or closely related literary devices that share similarities with apostrophe in their use of addressing or personifying absent or non-human entities:

 

Direct Address: This is a broader term that encompasses both apostrophe and other instances where a speaker directly addresses a person, thing, or idea. Apostrophe is a specific type of direct address.

 

Invocation: This refers to a form of prayer or request in which a speaker calls upon a deity, spirit, or higher power for guidance or assistance. It often involves addressing the entity directly.

 

Personification: While not exactly a synonym, personification is a related literary device where human qualities or attributes are given to inanimate objects, animals, or abstract ideas. In some cases, personification may involve indirect addressing of the personified entity.

 

Rhetorical Question: Although not the same as apostrophe, a rhetorical question is a figure of speech where a question is asked, but no answer is expected or required. In some cases, rhetorical questions may function similarly to apostrophe by addressing an absent or non-human entity.

 

Apostasis: This term is less commonly used, but it specifically refers to the literary device of apostrophe, where the speaker directly addresses someone or something that is not present.

 

It's worth noting that while these literary devices share some similarities with apostrophe, each has its own distinct characteristics and usage in writing and rhetoric. Apostrophe, with its unique focus on direct address to an absent or non-human entity, remains a powerful tool for expressing emotions and creating vivid imagery in literature.